Striking implement and head assembly therefor

ABSTRACT

A shaft or handle has a shank portion of oblong cross section force fitted into a cylindrical socket in the head of a striking implement, there being spaces at the sides of the oblong shank between the shank and the socket wall containing epoxy bonding compound or other adhesive.

United States Patent Leslie [451 May 9,1972

[54] STRIKING IMPLEMENT AND HEAD ASSEMBLY THEREFOR Gurdon Leslie, NorthMadison, Ohio [72] inventor:

[73] Assignee: True Temper Corporation, Cleveland, 2

Ohio

[22 Filed: Oct. 29, 1969 211 Appl. No.: 872,274

2,955,804 10/1960 Feucht ..287/126 X 1,540,559 6/1925 Murphy 273/8031,639,547 8/1927 Barnhart.... ..273/80.4 1,652,594 12/1927 Walker..273/80.3 2,153,550 4/1939 Cowdery.... ..273/80 3,175,232 3/1965Stowell ..306/33 X 3,355,226 1 H1967 Portz ..273/805 X FOREIGN PATENTSOR APPLICATIONS 688,324 2/1940 Germany ..306/33 558,868 1/1944 GreatBritain. ...287/126 213,073 3/1967 Sweden ..287/126 677,719 12/1929France ..287/126 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham AssistantE.\'aminerRichard .1. Apley Attorney-J. H. Slough [5 7] ABSTRACT A shaftor handle has a shank portion of oblong cross section force fitted intoa cylindrical socket in the head of a striking implement, there beingspaces at the sides of the oblong shank between the shank and the socketwall containing epoxy bonding compound or other adhesive.

9 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMM 9 I972 sum 1 [IF 2 INVENTOR.Guru on Les/i J. H. aoucfi ATTORNEY PATENTEDMY 9:912 3,661,388

' SHEET 2 0F 2 INVENTOR.

Garden ens/[e BY J. H. SLOUGH ATTORNEY STRIKING IMPLEMENT AND HEADASSEMBLY THEREFOR This invention relates to striking implements ofvarious kinds and particularly to means for securing a shaft or handleto the striking head of the implement.

It is well-known to those familiar with the present art to provide thehead of a striking implement such as a golf club or hammer with a shaftor handle. The head of the implement is commonly provided with acylindrical or slightly tapered socket into which a cylindrical end orshank portion of a shaft or handle is force fitted. The shank portionmay be provided with a slight taper, and additional securing means inthe form of a bonding compound disposed within the socket is frequentlyused. Such construction provides an implement of great strength having asubstantially rigid shaft of handle which resists flexing or bending tothe same degree in any direction transverse to the axis thereof.

The present inventor has discovered that a substantially improvedstriking implement structure subject to more varied uses is achieved byproviding a shank portion of a shaft or handle with an oblongcross-sectional shape and providing the socket in the head of theimplement with a substantially cylindrical shape. The longer diameter ofthe shank slightly exceeds the diameter of the socket to effect a forcefit, and the smaller diameter of said shank is slightly less than thediameter of the socket whereby space between the shank and socket isprovided on either side of the shank. A suitable bonding compound suchas an epoxide is disposed in the spaces between the shank and the socketwall whereby the shaft or handle is not only force fitted into theimplement head but is also chemically bonded thereto.

Providing the shank portion of the shaft or handle with an oblong crosssection has the effect of making said shank more rigid and resistant tobending in the transverse direction of the longer diameter of the shankwhile affording the shank greater flexibility in the transversedirection of its shorter diameter. Thus, by orienting the shank in theimplement head with the longer diameter perpendicular to the strikingsurface and parallel with the striking motion or direction, maximumstrength and stiffness is provided to resist the blow. On the otherhand, by orienting the shorter diameter perpendicular to the plane ofthe striking surface and parallel with the striking direction, a maximumflexibility is achieved.

In a striking implement such as a golf club, the angle of the longerdiameter of the shank with respect to the club face can be varied toprovide the desired degree of stiffness or flexibility. In a strikingtool such as a hammer, the longer diameter FIG. 3 is a longitudinalsection through the hosel of the head of the iron drawn to the scale ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged transverse section taken along the line 44of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 drawnto the scale of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section taken along the line 66 of FIG. 3 drawnto the scale of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail drawn to the scale of FIG. 3 showing thehead of the iron in partial section with the shank of the shaft securedthereto;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section through the hosel taken along the line8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged transverse section drawn to the scale of FIGS. 4-6taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 7 showing the elliptical shank disposedwith its longer diameter perpendicular to the striking face of the head;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the longer diameter of theshank disposed parallel with the striking face;

FIG. ll'is a side view of the head and upper handle portion of a hammershown partially in elevation and partially in section and illustratinganother embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal section through the hammer taken along theline 12-12 of FIG. 1 l; and

FIG. 13 is a transverse section taken along the line 13-13 of FIG. 1 1.

Referring now to the drawings in all of which like parts are designatedby like reference numerals. FIG. 1 shows a striking would preferablyalways be oriented perpendicular to the plane of the striking face toprovide maximum strength and stiffness in the direction in which theblow is struck.

It is, therefore, the general object of this invention to provide animproved means for securing a tubular shaft or handle to the head of thestriking implement.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a striking implementwherein the degree of stiffness or flexibility of the shaft or handle,in the direction of striking motion, can be varied.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improvedhandledo-head assembly comprising both a drive tit and a chemical bond.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a striking implementhaving a head provided with a substantially cylindrical socket and ashaft or handle shank of oblong cross-sectional shape whereby spaces forbonding compound are provided on opposite sides of the shank when thesame is inserted into the socket.

Other objects of the invention and the invention itself will be readilyunderstood from the following description of two embodiments of theinvention and the accompanying drawings, in which said drawings:

FIG. I is a side view of a golf club of the type known as an ironshowing a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail of the lower portion or shank of the golfclub shaft, a portion thereof being broken out;

implement in the form of a golf club 1 of the type known as an iron.Said golf club as herein illustrated comprises an elongated shaft 2 oftubular, metallic construction having a grip 3 and a metal head 4. Asherein illustrated, the shaft 2 decreases in diameter from the handle 3to the head 4 in a series of steps generally indicated at 5 andwell-known in the art. Below the lowermost step 5a, the shaft 2 isprovided with an elongated shank 6 which, as will hereinafter bedescribed in detail, has a slightly oblong cross section whereas theremainder of said shaft has a substantially circular cross section. Thegolf club head'4 has an upwardly directed hosel 7 and a striking face 8which is tilted or angled somewhat with respect to the axis of the shaftin the usual configuration of an iron. The lower end portion of theshank 6 is seated within a socket 10 in the hosel 7 and may be providedwith a decorative ferrule 9 above said hosel, said ferrule not beingshown in the remainder of the drawings since it forms no part of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 shows the lower end portion of the shaft 2 including thelowermost step 5a and the elongated shank 6. FIG. 4 shows thecross-sectional shape of the shaft 2 above the step 5, said shape beingcircular, whereas the sectional showing of FIG. 5 illustrates thecross-sectional shape of the shank 6 showing the same to be ellipticalor oblong. FIG. 3 shows the socket 10 of the hosel 7 in detail, saidsocket being circular in cross section as illustrated in the detail ofFIG. 6. Because the socket is circular and the longer dimension of theoblong shank is greater than the diameter of said socket, the shank willcontact the socket wall surface along lines diametrically opposite toeach other whereby the shank will be centered in the socket with respectto its shorter diameter and the spaces S will be the same on both sidesof said shank. This condition also assures that the shank is coaxialwith the socket 10. Thus, this particular construction helps to assurealignment of the shank 6 and hosel 7 when the parts are assembled.

As herein illustrated, the socket 10 is preferably cylindrical in shapewhereby it has the same cross-sectional dimension throughout the depththereof. The longer diameter of the oblong shank 6 is slightly greaterthan the diameter of socket 10 thereby affording a force-fit betweensaid shank and socket when the two are assembled. The upper innerperipheral edge of the socket 10 is preferably provided with an annularinwardly sloping bevel 11 to facilitate entrance of the lower end of theshaft 6 into said socket.

When the shank 6 is driven into the socket 10, the oblong or ellipticalshape of said shank affords space or clearance at opposite sides of theshank across the shorter dimension of the ellipse. These spaces are bestseen in FIGS. 9 and where they are indicated by the letter S. The spacesS in the assembled golf club would be filled with a suitable bondingcompound such as an epoxy resin, the same having been eliminated inFIGS. 9 and 10 for purposes of clarity.

In assembly of the golf club, the inner surface portions of the socket10 are preferably wiped or coated with an uncured epoxy bonding compound12 in a liquid state after which the shank 6 is driven into said socketand the compound is cured. Said epoxy compound is squeezed into thespaces S at the sides of the oblong shank 6 whereby said shank is firmlybonded as well as drive fitted into the hosel 7.

The oblong or elliptical shape of the shank 6 has the effect ofstiffening the shaft against axial distortion in the direction of thelonger diameter of the ellipse and correspondingly making the shankportion more flexible in the direction of the shorter diameter of saidellipse. Thus, the elliptical shank 6 not only affords the spaces S forthe deposit of the epoxy bonding compound but also provides means forincreasing the stiffness or strength of the shaft 2 in the area of theshank by inserting said shaft with the longer diameter of the ellipsegenerally perpendicular to the striking face 8. This is illustrated inFIG. 9 wherein the longer diameter of the ellipse is disposed verticallyand the striking face 8 is disposed horizontally.

FIG. 10 shows the manner in which the shank portion can be made moreflexible by disposing the longer diameter of the ellipse generallyparallel with the striking face 8, or horizontally as hereinillustrated. It will be readily understood that the shank 6 can bedisposed at any angle intermediate the angle shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 toachieve any desired intermediate degree of stiffness or flexibility. Thepartial sectional view of FIG. 7 is taken across the shorter diameter ofthe ellipse and illustrates the manner in which the epoxy bondingcompound 12 preferably fills the spaces S throughout the length of thesocket 10. The sectional detail of FIG. 8 is taken across the longerdiameter of the ellipse and shows the manner in which the shank isseated tightly against the inner wall surface of the socket 10 in thatdirection.

FIGS. 11-13 show the present invention as applied to a striking handtool, such as a hammer, generally indicated at 20. The hammer hereinillustrated comprises a metal head 21 having a striking portion 22projecting in one direction and claws 23 projecting in the oppositedirection. The intermediate portion of the head 21 is provided with adownwardly open socket 24 adapted to receive the upper end portion ofshank 26 of a tubular metallic handle 25. As shown in FIG. 13, the shank26 is oblong shaped or elliptical in cross section with the longerdimension of the ellipse being parallel with the long dimension of thehead 21 and perpendicular to the plane of the striking surface indicatedat 22 As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the spaces S at the sides of theellipse are filled with the epoxy bonding compound 12. In the case ofstriking hand tools such as hammers, the longer diameter of the ellipsewould preferably always be disposed perpendicular to the plane of thestriking face of the tool. However, the added flexibility suggested inconnection with the description of FIG. 10 may well be desirable in sometools, such as grass whips, hoes, rakes and the like.

In the following claims, the term handle" is used in the sense of a partdesigned especially to be grasped at one end and adapted to carry a headat the other end thereof. The term "oblong is intended to mean aconfiguration having a longer diameter in one direction and having ashorter diameter at right angles thereto.

I claim:

1. A striking implement comprising a striking head having a strikingsurface; said head having means providing a socket of substantiallycircular cross section adapted to receive the shank end of a handle; ahandle having a shank portion disposed in said socket; said shankportion being oblong shaped in cross section having a longer diameterportion and a shorter diameter portion the longer diameter of said shankbeing slightly in excess of the diameter of said socket providing aforce fit thereof within the socket, the shorter diameter being slightlyless than the diameter of said socket providing space between saidshorter diameter portions of the shank and the wall of said socket; abonding compound disposed within said space between said shank andsocket wall whereby the oblong shank is chemically bonded to said socketintermediate the force fitted portions.

2. A striking implement as set forth in claim 1: the longer diameter ofsaid shank being disposed at an angle with respect to said strikingsurface.

3. A striking implement as set forth in claim 1: the longer diameter ofsaid shank being disposed generally perpendicular to said strikingsurface to afford maximum stiffness in the direction of striking motion.

4. A striking implement as set forth in claim 1: the shorter diameter ofsaid shank being disposed generally perpendicular to said strikingsurface to afford maximum flexibility in the direction of strikingmotion.

5. A golf club comprising a golf club head and a shaft of generallycircular cross section; said head having a hosel providing a socket ofsubstantially circular cross section; said head having means providing agenerally laterally projecting striking face; said shaft having anelongated shank portion which is oblong shaped in cross section toincrease the stiffness of said shank in the direction of the largerdiameter thereof and increase the flexibility of said shank in thedirection of the smaller diameter thereof; said longer diameter beingslightly in excess of the diameter of said socket providing a force fitin said socket and said shorter diameter being slightly less than thediameter of said socket whereby opposite sides of said shank are spacedfrom the wall of said socket; and a bonding compound disposed within thespaces between said shank and socket wall for chemically bonding theoblong shaft to the socket wall intermediate the force fitted portions.

6. A golf club as set forth in claim 5: said longer diameter of saidshank being disposed at an angle with respect to said striking surface.

7. A golf club as set forth in claim 5: said longer diameter of saidshank being disposed generally perpendicular to said striking surface toafford maximum stiffness in the direction of striking motion.

8. A golf club as set forth in claim 5: said shorter diameter of saidshank being disposed generally perpendicular to said striking surface toafford maximum flexibility in the direction of striking motion.

9. A striking implement comprising a head having a striking surface;said head having means providing a socket portion adapted to receive theshank end of a handle; a handle having a shank portion disposed in saidsocket portion; one of said portions being oblong shaped in crosssection and the other said portion being substantially circular in crosssection; one diameter of said shank portion being slightly in excess ofone diameter of said socket portion to provide a force fit of said shankportion within said socket portion; the diameter of said shank portionperpendicular to said one diameter thereof being less than the diameterof said socket in the same direction whereby opposite sides of saidshank portion are spaced from the wall of said socket portion; and abonding compound disposed within the spaces between said shank portionand the wall of said socket portion.

1. A striking implement comprising a striking head having a strikingsurface; said head having means providing a socket of substantiallycircular cross section adapted to receive the shank end of a handle; ahandle having a shank portion disposed in said socket; said shankportion being oblong shaped in cross section having a longer diameterportion and a shorter diameter portion, the longer diameter of saidshank being slightly in excess of the diameter of said socket providinga force fit thereof within the socket, the shorter diameter beingslightly less than the diameter of said socket providing space betweensaid shorter diameter portions of the shank and the wall of said socket;a bonding compound disposed within said space between said shank andsocket wall whereby the oblong shank is chemically bonded to said socketintermediate the force fitted portions.
 2. A striking implement as setforth in claim 1: the longer diameter of said shank being disposed at anangle with respect to said striking surface.
 3. A striking implement asset forth in claim 1: the longer diameter of said shank being disposedgenerally perpendicular to said striking surface to afford maximumstiffness in the direction of striking motion.
 4. A striking implementas set forth in claim 1: the shorter diameter of said shank beingdisposed generally perpendicular to said striking surface to affordmaximum flexibility in the direction of striking motion.
 5. A golf clubcomprising a golf club head and a shaft of generally circular crosssection; said head having a hosel providing a socket of substantiallycircular cross section; said head having means providing a generallylaterally projecting striking face; said shaft having an elongated shankportion which is oblong shaped in cross section to increase thestiffness of said shank in the direction of the larger diameter thereofand increase the flexibility of said shank in the direction of thesmaller diameter thereof; said longer diameter being slightly in excessof the diameter of said socket providing a force fit in said socket andsaid shorter diameter being slightly less than the diameter of saidsocket whereby opposite sides of said shank are spaced from the wall ofsaid socket; and a bonding compound disposed within the spaces betweensaid shank and soCket wall for chemically bonding the oblong shaft tothe socket wall intermediate the force fitted portions.
 6. A golf clubas set forth in claim 5: said longer diameter of said shank beingdisposed at an angle with respect to said striking surface.
 7. A golfclub as set forth in claim 5: said longer diameter of said shank beingdisposed generally perpendicular to said striking surface to affordmaximum stiffness in the direction of striking motion.
 8. A golf club asset forth in claim 5: said shorter diameter of said shank being disposedgenerally perpendicular to said striking surface to afford maximumflexibility in the direction of striking motion.
 9. A striking implementcomprising a head having a striking surface; said head having meansproviding a socket portion adapted to receive the shank end of a handle;a handle having a shank portion disposed in said socket portion; one ofsaid portions being oblong shaped in cross section and the other saidportion being substantially circular in cross section; one diameter ofsaid shank portion being slightly in excess of one diameter of saidsocket portion to provide a force fit of said shank portion within saidsocket portion; the diameter of said shank portion perpendicular to saidone diameter thereof being less than the diameter of said socket in thesame direction whereby opposite sides of said shank portion are spacedfrom the wall of said socket portion; and a bonding compound disposedwithin the spaces between said shank portion and the wall of said socketportion.